House of Staunton — for donating the beautiful chess sets used, reproductions of the Fischer-Spassky set that will be autographed by all the players and sold after the event with proceeds going to the USCF.

CruisingThroughLife.com — for adding a nice perk to the first prize, a deal for the winner to join the 2008 Caribbean Gambit Chess Cruise.

Jeff Smith, of South Carolina — who donated $100 per round for the “Best Fighting Game” of the day.

Goddesschess.com and The Susan Polgar Foundation — for generously donating $500 for the “GoddessChess ‘Fighting Chess’ Award”. This was awarded by Susan Polgar to Tatev Abrahamyan, who had 6 wins, 3 losses, and zero draws.

Thanks also to: Zeljka Malobabic for her tireless work as the MonRoi internet guru, photographer, and video editor. Betsy Dynako, the photographer for Chess Life, who made everyone look good. IM Alan Stein, for his live commentary and video game analysis online. Jim Berry, for his work as Chief T.D. and as a member of the organizing committee (and the USCF). And of course International Arbiter Frank K. Berry, for his generous sponsorship and tournament direction.

As for me, the Chief Organizer, I’m just glad it is all over. Working on an event like this has many rewards and many anxieties. Trying to get a bunch of grandmasters to do something can often be like trying to herd cats. But it is well worth it, as getting to know these great players better was a real pleasure.

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Chess Quotes

And for the chess-player the success which crowns his work, the great dispeller of sorrows, is named "combination."